Body of missing CDC researcher found in Atlanta river

Cunningham lived near the river where his body was found and was an avid jogger, and he had been wearing a jogging outfit. The location of the gruesome discovery is about 400 yards upstream from a bridge, just east of the Atlanta Public Safety Annex, officials said.

Cunningham reportedly called his sister the morning he was last seen.

During a news conference, police said there is no indication of foul play, and while they are still waiting on a final report from the medical examiner, it appears that Cunningham drowned.

Those details were actually released by the Atlanta Police Department during a press conference on their ongoing attempts to find Cunningham, who went missing on February 12 after leaving work and supposedly returning home. Colleagues said he left after feeling unwell. The relative couldn't find Cunningham and noticed his cellphone and vehicle keys were still in the house. But police have found no evidence that Cunningham's disappearance was directly tied to his lack of promotion.

This is a breaking story.

The condition of the body is consistent with Cunningham being gone since February 12, the medical examiner said.

With more than 16 years of experience in public health, he'd co-authored 28 publications on topics ranging from sleep deprivation to pulmonary disease, with a special focus on how health issues affect minorities. He held two degrees from Harvard, and was a graduate of Morehouse College.

11Alive reached out to Atlanta Police about the CDC's statements and the agency is standing behind the information they released.

Watch the police press conference below where the promotion is mentioned at least 12 times. But the CDC disputed that, saying that Cunningham been promoted to commander effective July 1 "in recognition of his exemplary performance in the U.S. Public Health Service".

Almost two weeks later, the CDC said that information was untrue.

People fishing in the water saw the body and notified the authorities, police said.